Budget and medium-term financial plan (MTFP)

The council is asking people to give their views on its draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2025-29.

A total of £21.5m in savings are proposed over the next four years.

Among the proposed savings is £3.556m over the next four years through redesigning some back office services – removing historic underspend, reducing running cost and embracing new ways of working.

Energy usage has been closely monitored, with £1.5m in savings anticipated over the next four years.

The council has also reviewed income streams and expects to bring in £7.428m over the four-year MTFP period. This will be achieved through additional grant income, fees and charges, overhead recovery and more efficient debt income collection.

A transformation programme of work will look at how financial subsidies to much-loved leisure and cultural facilities can be reduced, while maintaining these to the high standards residents expect.

In addition, a proposed Council Tax increase of 2.99%, plus a social care precept of 2%, would generate additional income to help provide vital services.

Read the full proposals: Medium term financial plan for consultation [pdf document] and the MTFP appendices [pdf document]

You can have you say by emailing [email protected] or posting your comments to Finance Team, Darlington Borough Council, Town Hall, Feethams, Darlington DL1 5QT or give us your views below.